Bradley wins, Pacquiao’s robbed: If you can’t trust the outcome, can you go back to the sport?

This is what I was thinking in the final rounds tonight, as Manny Pacquiao slowed down a bit–either out of pity, weariness or plain boredom –and still seemed well on his way to a victory over Timothy Bradley:

* Pacquiao was both dominant and lacking spark, if that’s possible.

He landed the power shots, no doubt; he controlled the fight and though Bradley was game, Bradley clearly was uninterested in tasting too much Pacquiao leather after the fourth or fifth round and got much less aggressive.

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Pacquiao won that fight– I had it 9 rounds to 3 for Manny–but four or five years ago, Pacquiao would’ve chased down Bradley and then put him down. Oh well, he’s 33, so you can’t expect Manny to destroy everybody any more.

He won the fight. Easy enough.

Then the unfathomable decision was announced, and all hell broke loose.

Judge Jerry Roth had it in a close call for Pacquiao (and even that seemed bizarre,);

And two judges–C.J. Ross and Duane Ford–gave the close-call to Bradley, which delivered him the split-decision victory.

Terrible, terrible decision. The worst one I’ve ever seen… and I was ringside at the joke in San Antonio when the judges ruled Pernell Whitaker’s dismantling of Julio Cesar Chavez was actually a draw.

This one was worse because it put a fraudulent “L” on Pacquiao’s record and gave Bradley an unearned victory–not Bradley’s fault, but still worse than JCC stealing away with a draw.

This one was worse, also, because boxing’s precarious state of play.

The sport has been sagging for decades, and now Pacquiao’s just about the only thing driving the engine (along with Floyd Mayweather, in a lesser way), and if you put Pacquiao in jeopardy, the whole thing is shaky beyond belief.

Teddy Atlas is one of the smartest, most credible guys in the sport, and he immediately called boxing “a corrupt sport;” I understand why that would be the emotion, because corruption is the simplest answer for something so obviously wrong.

Could this have been fixed? I can’t say it’s impossible. You never know. Things like that have certainly happened.

Boxing deserves the accusations, no doubt. I’ve seen the machinations up close as a boxing writer for the LA Times, and I can tell you that it can get pretty slip-shod even at the highest levels.

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But to the corruption point: I don’t quite see the cash angle here, and at some point, you have to find the money angle to prove corruption.

If you’re arguing the fight was fixed for Bradley to set up a rich rematch with Pacquiao… OK, that might happen. But would the powers in the sport really agree to do that and enrage thousands of boxing fans along the way?

You lose 50 or 50,000 fans with a crooked decision in a sport that has lost them in droves for decades… Does that make sense? No.

Bradley’s camp doesn’t have enough juice to set this up. And Pacquiao can make mega-money whoever he fights–the sport didn’t need any fraud rematch to make him more marketable and make his fights more profitable.

Pacquiao, if the fans believe in the credibility of the outcome, is a cash machine WHOEVER he fights. Big “if” now, however.

So what’s the angle? Some on Twitter say it’s a set up by promoter Bob Arum to make the younger Bradley the new face of boxing (and ease the aging Pacquiao off the stage after 1 or 2 more big fights), but no, it doesn’t work that way.

You don’t become a mega-star in this sport by the whim of a promoter or a few judges. You become a star if you’re a star, the way Pacquiao’s a star; and Bradley isn’t a star. He’s a solid fighter with a big heart, but he doesn’t have star power and won’t get it.

Maybe this does make the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight slightly easier to make, which is another accusation about this “fix.” But that’s only by a few degrees–Manny will have less pull in any negotiations, which could set this up.

But that fight is now diminished by a Pacquiao loss, too. If Pacquiao has to fight the rematch with Bradley to re-establish his luster, then that’s yet another six-month delay (or more) for the possibility of Pacquiao-Mayweather… and what if Pacquiao loses legitimately in the rematch?

Pacquiao’s skills are eroding and if it becomes obvious, that diminishes the Mayweather fight, too.

Mayweather’s skills are eroding, too. If the sport is corruptly trying to force this fight, the corruptors just put it in jeopardy, too, by putting an “L” on Pacquiao’s ledger.

And I know some are saying, well, Bob Arum can put “new star” Bradley in with Mayweather, if he can get Mayweather’s camp to agree.

Folks, that’s not a big fight; it’s just not. Maybe there’s a dollar or two added to the purse of such a fight now that Bradley has won a ridiculous victory… but that’s not enough to counter the loss of credibility for this sport.

That’s the problem: If you can’t trust the outcome, you can’t go back to the sport, and the sport needs us all to keep coming back.

I think this is more about incompetence than anything else–Whitaker-Chavez was about protecting Chavez, the cash cow; this was about incompetence, because Vegas would have every reason to protect the Pacquiao cash cow and screwed it up, even when he was the far better fighter.

Those two judges were incompetent, period. As incompetent as any ref or official or judge has ever been in a recent major sports event.

And that’s almost worse than corruption, because the Nevada Commission picked them for this spotlight, because Ford is a very well respected judge, and because if the commission and those judges couldn’t get this right, then I can’t trust any of them, ever again.

And I repeat: If you can’t trust the outcome, how can you keep going back to the sport?

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This is why I quit watching boxing years ago. I’m glad I didn’t waste 65 bucks to watch this, I would’ve been livid. There is no credibility in this sport and I’m sure the few boxing fans there are today would agree.

The angle is Pacman’s contract is up and it doesn’t look like he will re-sign with Top Rank. With Mayweather looming and a HUGE payday in Nov., why not fix it so neither fighter can maximize their earnings. Pacquiao has stated that he doesn’t have many fights left. Mayweather had called out Pacqiao for his May bout, but Arum came up with some excuse that Pacqiao wouldn’t be ready even though they wanted the May date. Once Mayweather took that date, Arum line up Bradley for the fight. It appears as if the beef between Arum and Mayweather has prevented the mega fight from happening. Neither party wants to help the other from making money. Arum cares more about his power in the sport than the long term health of it.

TooFunny

TK,

Haven’t cared about boxing since Buster Douglas and the Tyson/Holyfield biting matches. And was I dreaming or back then did a guy fly down and land in the ring???? Seriously. Boxing has been ridiculous since LAST century. Even I can’t believe Manny loses in a decision and I don’t watch boxing. Watch MMC – at least the fighters aren’t viewed poorly after beating one another’s brains out! Such an injustice to the Boxers.

Xiong

TK, still can’t believe the decision. We need to have you covering boxing again, don’t you miss it?

The Oracle

If a decision is fixed in boxing, chances are the money comes from gambling interests, not from either side.

There is no reason for them to fix the fight. I think this makes it harder for a Floyd-Manny fight. What incentive does Floyd have to fight him? Manny will still want a large split, but because of this loss Floyd can say he doesn’t deserve it.

Maybe the judges were angry that Manny made them wait until the bball game finished. I have a hard time seeing a reason for a fix, but that Arum angle does raise an eyebrow. But, like you said, Bradley doesn’t have the star power to carry the sport, personality-wise.

Manny dominated, won 10-2 IMO.

BS (2): the contract had already set a date for a rematch if Bradley won.

Nipper

Boxing is not a SPORT presently but like Pro Wrestling is just entertainment. How can anyone take it seriously?

The Bobbler

Don’t get it – why do people want to see a sport where the sole object is to injure the other guy? Saints are called out for bounties, why is this different?

Big Suede

I agree with the above posters- Boxing and Basketball are the equivalent to professional wrestling- it can be, and is, easily manipulated.

And TK= the money angle to this is betting- I guarantee the judges were bought off so that someone could make a ton of money from a big upset.

Grey Warden

Pacman also “lost” his last fight to Marquez, but instead, he was awarded a win.

I love how TK cries corruption in boxing, but when fans tell him basketball is just as corrupt, with Stern and the refs, he scoffs and writes it off as fans being delusional.

Chris Webber

Even Stevie Wonder had it 9-3 for Pacquiao.

12′s

Still can’t believe the outcome of this fight. Judges got paid but its just a matter of by who. It’s either Vegas, Arum or Mayweather because he is scared to fight pacman. It’s probably Vegas but I like the Mayweather theory the best.

bseismic

the older i get, the less i care about sports… and i’m getting pretty old.

Kyle Perizi

Fans of professional boxing are like women who’d show up on Oprah or Phil Donahue with horrible stories of spousal or boy friend abuse, only to return to the same dirtbag or a similar dirtbag for more punishment. Snap out of it TK! your better than that, don’t be like those women and if you still return to professional boxing, quit bitching about the outcomes. The UFC is the better product so make your move to that like I and many others have done.

milo

Seriously WTF. Saw the fight and no way in hell Bradley won.

Pacman barely broke a sweat and Bradley never touched his face.

My sense was Manny was holding back, as to not kill or hurt the guy.

Dirty

That’s what Pacquiao gets for delaying the start of the match because he wanted to watch the Celtics game. His ego got in the way and the judges let him know that they were in charge.

poundwater

Um, grey, it appears to me that TK is not pushing corruption but rather incompetence.

3rdKing

I only saw the highlights so I can’t really say…

I did feel nobody one because I expected Packeeeow to knock him out…

MAYWEATHER VS THE PACMAN…..

i don’t care what it costs, somebody get it done

3rdKing

im serious, get the ballers to throw in coin, i want this fight

3rdKing

this is the year….it’s either gonna happen or it’s not, but this is the year

tommy

Bradley was hurt, his footwork was terrible, and he was tremendously outclassed. Yet, Manny wasn’t focused, he didn’t press when he had the advantage, and he definitely didn’t fight for a knockout, When you are paid $26m for 36 minutes of work, it’s probably a bad idea to keep everyone waiting and then give 80% effort. Things like that tend to irritate the judges.

Kyle Perizi

TK, I quit watching boxing after the Leonard-Hearns fight where Ray was knocked down multiple times and still won the fight. Some people are gluttons for punishment, others are not. People who continue to support pro boxing are probably the same people who stuck butter knives into light sockets multiple times as children and wondered why their parents started covering the sockets with protective caps. I stand by original post.

solomonwilcox

awful

Niners in 2012

I have seen close fights judged bad, but never a completely one-sided fight get ruled the other way. WOW, insane.

pablo jaime

Disagree with all of you. I am a pacman fan…but I agree with the decision…ring generalship was the difference…I love the Bradley fought…hated the way pacman fought…going in I knew Bradley would be tough…I’ve never seen him crack…but he hadn’t fought no one yet…he’s a tough fighter has everything you want in a fighter except speed and power…but he.absorbs punches and he is fearless…last night he was under control in the late rounds did enough but didn’t get careless…I’d like to see him fight mayweather…I think money soul win…I think alvarez can beat money though…in a a year…pacman needs to regain intensity

pablo jaime

Yeah I think alvarez can take money in a year…pacman needs to fight Bradley again…props to Bradley…knew he was nice…I like his demeanor…I knew pacman was in trouble at the weigh in…Bradley was in great shape and focused…pacman looked uninterested…pacman is still the better fighter no doubt….but he wasn’t last night…and who knows this is Bradley’s first big fight…I been watching him…what I’ve learned is he doesn’t possess power and speed but he has tremendous heart…I circle his fights on the calendar…he ain’t let me down yet…it would be sweet for a guy like that to beat money…poetic even…but its doubtful…moneys last fight was a decent performance…enough to beat another really good fighter in cotto…although I’m 100% sure Bradley beats cotto…alvarez is the next big champ after money and pacman though

sliver1935

Bad decisions? Yeah plenty of them, most made by inferior but not corrupt officials. Go all the way back to Irish Billy Graham vs Kid Gavilan and hundreds since. I didn’t see the fight but I suspect the universal outcry against the decision is most likely spot on. Perhaps Manny should have closed it out before taking a chance on a decision. Anyway, should there be a rematch, it will all come out in the wash. By the bye. I wouldn’t exactly call the Whitiker win over Chavez a dismantling. Whitiker clearly won. But he also clearly and probably deliberately hit Chavez below the belt three consecutive times without a penalty. Could that have been a factor? I say yes. Try getting hit there by a professional fighter three times within a minute or two and see if that doesn’t affect your stamina.

Tim O

HBO-PPV should refund everyone’s money. Sure it would be a bit $ hit for them, but at least they wouldn’t appear to be complicit in this corrupt decision by corrupt judges. I’m not sure that I will ever again watch a PPV because of this. Pacquiao deserves his day in the court of public opinion–and he has it. Freddy Roach–file a criminal complaint.

Ron

Is not honesty and boxing an oxymoron?

jsteez

been a huge boxing fan for years, but that’s it for now. totally one-sided fight, Manny was in control but also not looking to put Bradley away. Old Manny would have bludgeoned him into a pulp by the 8th. The decision was a joke, but more than that, Manny was just looking for another payday. Like he’s so special he can’t just Tivo a damn game like the rest of us… would love to tell my boss that the $26MM paycheck can wait until the game’s over. If the most consistently entertaining fighter isn’t interested in entertaining me, then why spend the $?

orangeandblack

Isn’t the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome?